Halloween is sneaking up: Do you have plans yet?

Goblins, ghosts and ghouls -- oh, my! With acres and acres of sprawling cornfields and pumpkin patches, coupled with historical roots dating to the mid-1800s, Boulder and its surrounding cities have become the perfect location to catch the Halloween spirit.

This Halloween, local farms and businesses are offering up a steady stream of Halloween- and fall-themed events, including a corn maze shaped like Peyton Manning, rows and rows of pumpkins, costume contests, live music, spooky haunted houses and cemetery tours.

Whether you have a sugar-loving mini goblin, are seeking an outing for the entire family or just want an excuse to wear tights and a wig for an evening, you might find the perfect event below.

FUN FOR ALL

Ollin Farms Pumpkin Festival, 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont; Oct. 14

Snag the perfect pumpkin, fresh heirloom tomatoes, winter squash, roasted chiles, beets, carrots, apples and other farm-fresh vegetables to make the perfect fall meal. More information is available at ollinfarms.com.

This is the main fundraiser for the school's theater department, and the students might be on to some good scare tactics when they say: "All your favorite childhood memories are coming back to haunt you." Open 7-11 p.m. Oct. 19, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 20, 7-11:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 27 and 6:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 31. They have a special, less-scary day for youngsters, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 28. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors. More details are available at ecornell0669@bvsd.org or 303-440-4395.

This father and son make quite the skeleton crew in Longmont s 2011 Halloween Parade along Main Street. Who knows what terrors we ll see in this year s parade.
(Longmont Times-Call)

YA YA Farm Apple Fest, 6914 Ute Highway, Longmont; Oct. 20

There's nothing like picking your own apples, drinking some apple cider and snacking on apple cider donuts to get in the fall spirit. And don't forget the hayrides. Festival entry is $15 per person for patrons 8 and older (tickets must be purchased in advance, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Saturday in October. Learn more at yayafarmandorchard.com.

Mix fitness with fun at the second Monster Dash 5K in Old Town Louisville. The Spooky Sprint is perfect for the little ghouls, goblins of all ages will enjoy the Monster Mini-Mile and adults can challenge themselves in the Monster Dash 5K. Costumes are highly encouraged. Find out more at http://monsterdashrun.com. For more details, go to http://monsterdashrun.com/home.html.

In addition to Colorado's longest-running corn maze and pumpkin patch, Anderson Farms offers live music (Oct. 13-14 and Oct. 20-21), seed survival education for the little ones, zombie paintball and the infamous after-dark Terror in the Corn Maze (recommended for ages 7 and older). For more information, visit http://andersonfarms.com.

Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Play in the corn and straw bale mazes, free of charge. Plenty of pumpkins, natural Halloween decorations, hayrides, friendly farm animals and a farm stand featuring local honey also are offered. For more details, go to cottonwoodfarms.com.

Get lost in the Fritzler Maze every Wednesday through Sunday through the entire month of October. By day, the maze is an intricately shaped design of Denver Bronco quarterback Peyton Manning, but by night, the labyrinth transforms into the haunted and very spooky "Scream Acres." For more information, go to http://fritzlermaze.com/index.html.

A fun play area for the family offers kids the chance to go wild, jump around on hay bales and slide down super slides. Enjoy a tasty caramel apple after you complete the corn maze, and don't forget your $6 U-Pick-Em pumpkin before heading home. Find out more at rockcreekfarm.com/explore-the-farm/family-fun-area.

Banjo Billy's Ghost Story Tours, Boulder; every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October

From Macky Auditorium to the haunts roaming the cemeteries, Boulder is full of ghosts -- and for $22 per adult and $12 for children 6-12, the folks at Banjo Billy's bus tours will introduce you to all of them. Tours sell out quickly, so check out banjobilly.com/banjo-news for ticket information.

El Dia de los Muertos Celebration, Longmont Museum; through Nov. 4

This monthlong multi-event celebration includes Dancing Skeletons (for kids 7-10) on Oct. 13, a Kids Ofrenda Workshop on Oct. 21 and a family celebration on Oct. 27. There's plenty more to do, so check out ci.longmont.co.us/museum/education/day_of_dead.htm.

Check out the tractor rides, petting zoo, corn maze and pumpkin patch -- and harvest your own veggies. And if you're brave -- check out the Haunted Adventure through Halloween night. Entry to the festival is $15 per person. Discounts are available for active military, police, EMTs and firefighters. Learn more at millerfarms.net/events/fall-harvest-festival .

What better way to experience the fall colors in the high country than on the back of a horsedrawn wagon? Enjoy dinner and ride for $50 per person. Wagon and horseback rides are available from noon to 5 p.m. every Sunday, as weather permits. For more information, go to aspenlodge.net/index.php/activities/events.

KID FRIENDLY

Lyons Spooktacular Halloween, Main Street, downtown Lyons; Oct. 27

Activities in Sandstone Park from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth Saturday in October include live music, pumpkin carving, mask making, pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin bowling and a costume contest. The Lyons Halloween Parade will march through downtown Lyons beginning at 6 p.m. and wil be followed by trick-or-treating at participating businesses. Learn more at townoflyons.com/index.php/2012-halloween.

Longmont Halloween Parade, downtown Longmont; Oct. 27

Parade starts at 10 a.m. followed by trick-or-treating at local merchants, a scary-story time at the Longmont Library and make-and-take crafts, also at the library. For more information, check out ci.longmont.co.us/rec/special/halloween.htm

Munchkin Masquerade, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder; Oct. 31

Rain or shine, this gathering, from 2 to 5 p.m., of costumed munchkins trick-or-treating at shops on the Pearl Street Mall is an annual hit. Get more details at boulderdowntown.com/events/munchkin-masquerade.

Murder Mystery Dinners at The Gold Hill Inn include hors d'oeuvres, champagne, a three-course meal -- and, of course, a murder mystery. Tickets are $65 per person. Learn more at goldhillinn.com/murder.html.

Upholding an annual tradition, Denver band DeVotchKa is back and kicking off the Halloween weekend with Friday and Saturday shows. Tickets, at $29.50 per person, are available for both shows and can be purchased at bouldertheater.com.

Spend the weekend before Halloween at one of the most haunted places in America. The eccentric costume contest promises to be outrageous, and you might even see a real ghost or two. Sorry, but the murder mystery dinner the previous night is sold out. Get more details at stanleyhotel.com/halloween.

The Motet will be playing to a crowd of costumed fans and have promised to throw a wild and raucous psychedelic Halloween dance party of epic proportions. For more information, visit bouldertheater.com.

Wofford, also a children's book author, and his band return to Oskar Blues to entertain the partygoers at the Oskar Blues Halloween Costume Party. Music is from 8 to 11 p.m. Get more details at oskarblues.com.

If you like dark, scary places filled with ghosts and goblins around each corner, this haunted house is for you. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 to midnight. For more info, visit thefrightmarecompound.com.

Skrillex,1st Bank Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield; Oct. 31

Skrillex will be playing his electronic music at the 1st Bank Center again after a successful Halloween show last year. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Get the scoop at 1stbankcenter.com.

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story